At a meeting last night at Quakake Fire Company, engineer William Hamilton from Wagner Associates Inc., Schuylkill Haven, said the cost per home is based on a grant, which covers 55 percent of the project, and 40-year loan from Farmers Home Administration -- a federal program for environmental projects.

"We should get it," Hamilton said of the grant. "Quakake and Tamanend are the most distressed communities in Rush Township."

Supervisor George Pinkey said he hopes the township can obtain more grants so people will pay less. Pinkey said homeowners will not be charged a hook-up fee.

Pinkey said yearlong construction will begin in September.

People can inspect the plan from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the township building. Written comments will be accepted for 30 days. The township will forward comments to the state Department of Community Affairs.

Engineer Dorothy Niedzwiecki said the 90,000 gallon-per-day treatment plant will be built along State Route 1019 -- known as the Quakake-Tamanend Road. Niedzwiecki said the treated water will empty into Neifert Creek.

Pinkey said supervisors will hold monthly meetings to keep residents informed and answer their questions. A few raised questions last night that supervisors said they will address later.

Geri Mace wanted to know who will pay for pumps that some homeowners will need to push sewage from their houses to the sewer line.

Pinkey said in Rush Township's Lake Hauto section, the township provides and maintains pumps for a $2,600 fee. Pinkey said that issue needs to be talked about more.

Another homeowner wanted to know if help is available for people on fixed incomes. Hamilton said that will be talked about more at other meetings.